People's pacer begins his race to royalty

04 August 2015 | Noel Ridge
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Menin Gate's driver and trainer, Chris Alford and Larry Eastman.

Menin Gate's driver and trainer, Chris Alford and Larry Eastman.

Star pacer Menin Gate, trained at Shelbourne by Larry Eastman for a group of owners from Birchip in the Mallee, will take on a field of 3yo male pacers in Heat 10 of the IRT Breeders Crown for 3yo colts and geldings at Lord’s Raceway on Thursday night.

Menin Gate has been Australasia’s dominant 3yo this season, winning the Sires Classic at Ballarat, the Vicbred Super Series Final, a heat and the final of the Victoria Derby, then in Queensland, the  Gold Coast Derby, and the Queensland Derby. 

Menin Gate has amassed $377,548 in winning 10 of his 15 starts.

He has drawn barrier 5 of 10 starters in race three, due to start at 7:30 PM. Chris Alford will pilot Menin Gate, who is likely to start a short-priced favourite.

Eastman, who hadn’t trained a Group 1 winner prior to this season but now has four of them, said he was “stoked” with Menin Gate’s win at Albion Park 10 days ago in 1:55.1 (54.7).

“He’s really come on,” the trainer said, pointing out a patient, carefully planned preparation was paying dividends.

Menin Gate’s Birchip owners are rejoicing in the success of the “Birchip Bull”, as he is also known.

In fact the whole town is. Local priest Father Eugene even halted a recent service temporarily to inform the congregation: “Menin Gate just won”. The people erupted in applause.

“He is the people’s horse, I suppose,” Eastman acknowledged.

“He’s got that ring about him now and it’s good for him and it’s good for the sport.”

 

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